Carrie Stevens Weekend

Oquossoc- The Carrie Stevens Weekend will be held on June 24-25, 2017 at the Historical Society’s Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oquossoc. The event will celebrate one of the region’s most well-known personalities and her important contributions to the world of fly tying and fly fishing. This marks the 2nd edition of this popular event first held back in 2015 and this year’s event promises to be even bigger and better than the first!

On Saturday, the 24th at 11AM, OSHM will unveil a very important addition to its already impressive collections. The museum has acquired Carrie’s 6 lb. 12 oz. brook trout caught just steps from her home at Upper Dam. The fish was mounted by the legendary Herb Welch. This famous catch took 2nd Place in the 1924 Field and Stream National Fishing Contest. The recognition in Field and Stream, and subsequent newspaper stories, propelled this unassuming local lady’s name into the national spotlight! Her fly-tying career exploded as orders streamed in from throughout North America, addressed quite simply to: “Mrs. Carrie Stevens, Upper Dam, Me.” Carrie’s famous Brook Trout is truly one of angling “crown jewels” and is one of the finest examples of the work of master taxidermist, Herb Welch. “Thanks to their separate contributions, Carrie and Herb will each forever hold, a place among angling’s true immortals… so to be able to exhibit an artifact that connects them together in such a unique way is really, very special”, shared OSHM Executive Director Bill Pierce.

Visitors to the museum will be able to view the largest collection of authentic Carrie Stevens tied streamer flies ever assembled in one place. The museum recently acquired a private collection of 33 Carrie Stevens flies adding significantly to the over 200 Carrie Stevens flies OSHM currently has on display. This special event will feature fly tying demonstrations by some of the most respected tiers of Carrie’s Streamer patterns in the world and a special clinic on the “Stevens Method” from noted expert Leslie Hilyard. This special clinic revealing how Carrie’s tying technique evolved over a career spanning 30 years has limited space and will be by reservation only. We invite collectors of Carrie Stevens flies to bring their collections of her flies for display during the weekend. This will also be a chance for the public and collectors to swap, buy or sell her original flies. Perhaps you’d like to have a Stevens fly of your very own? We are pleased to share that OSHM will have several authentic Carrie Stevens flies available for purchase representing patterns that are already preserved in our collection. If you think you may have an authentic Carrie Stevens fly, this will be an opportunity to have it authenticated by Graydon and Leslie Hilyard. They will also be available to sign copies of their book …Carrie Stevens Maker of Rangeley Favorite Trout and Salmon Flies.

The weekend will also feature the Inaugural “Carrie Stevens Fly Fishing Classic”. On Friday, the 23rd, two-person teams will fish the pools of the legendary Upper Dam in the museum’s fleet of fully restored authentic Rangeley Boats. This will be a photograph-supported catch and release fly fishing contest. Sponsored Teams of two anglers will travel from Mill Brook on Richardson Lake to Upper Dam aboard “The Gray Ghost” with Capt. Kevin Sinnett. All participants will receive a picnic lunch, beverages and a commemorative T-shirt. Prizes will be awarded for Best Salmon, Best Trout and Best Photo. Space is limited to six teams. All proceeds will support OSHM.

The Carrie Stevens Weekend will share vintage artifacts, great demonstrations and some yet to be announced surprises. All to help celebrate this amazing woman, her beloved Upper Dam and the Rangeley region. “We hope folks come and help celebrate All-Things-Carrie on June 24th & 25th with us here in Rangeley. The fishing is always good then, so it’s sure to be a great time”, added Pierce.